Conveying apparatus



March 10, 1942. .LL/HEROLD ET AL CONVEYING 4 APPARATUS Filed Jan.

18, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 R DAM'W .moi www( n TRAMAk N NEEH R WHNEM. m wm www F Y B J. L. HEROLD ET AL CONVEYING APPARATUS March 10, 1942.

Filed Jan. 18, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvENToRs J.l .HERo| D WJ. NEKOLA EVV. WEI-MILLER BY @Mg we@ ATTORNEY Mam 10, 1942- .1. L. HEROLD 'E1-AL CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR J. I .HERoLo WJ. NEKOLA F.W WEHM|| L.:R BYCCAM ATTORNEY March l0, 1942- J. L. HEROLD ET AL CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Il \b D A L .....4 u SLLl Y S XM M 2.0i TEEH R mHNMmm WLJ. awo...

March 10, 1942. J L, HEOLD *ET AL 2,275,433

CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5v F IG.1'Z

INVENToRs J. I .HERoLD W.J. NEKOLA P. W. WEHMILLER BY'QUMQ. M

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 1 0, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE CONVEYING APPARATUS Application January1s, 1940, serial No. 314,388

5 Claims.l

This invention relates to conveying apparatus, and more particularly to a conveyor having a plurality of supports movable in endless cycles to alternately advance the articles.

One of the objects of this invention is to produce a conveyor of this type which transmits the articles in a substantially straight plane without alternately raising and lowering said articles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a conveyor adapted to efficiently transmit articles through zones of different temperatures without causing undesirable variations in .the temperatures of the conveying members for moving the articles through said zones.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novel construction, combination and .arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and shown in the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form ofthe invention. However, it is to be understood that the invention comprehends changes, variationsand modifications within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Fig. l isv a side view of a pasteurizer provided with a bottle conveyor embodying features of this invention, a portion of the side Wall and some of the other details being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the driving mechanism at a side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the conveying members at opposite sides of theapparatus, the middle portion being broken away. Fig. 4 is a side view of the conveying apparatus at the side shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the con-- veylng apparatus, taken approximately on the I 1 line 5-5 in Fig. 4. 40

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the details of the apparatus shown at the right hand portion of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section of4 the details of the apparatus shown at the right 45 hand portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the bottle-supporting members being omitted to more clearly show the details of the driving means.

. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the details at the left portion or Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 `is an enlarged fragmentary' section showing-details of the supports on which the bottles are alternately supported and advanced. 55

l advance the bottles step by step.'

To illustrate our inventiomwe have shown an apparatus for transmitting articles, such as botd tles 20 through a pasteurizer.

The pasteurizer, asshown in Fi'g. 1, includes an elongated housing 2| having an entrance 22 and an outlet 23. The bottles, asthey pass through the pasteurizer from its' entrance to its .outlet, are successively subjected to sprays ofI liquid at preheating, pasteurizing and cooling temperatures.

The relatively cool bottles entering thehousing may be first subjected to sprays of preheating liquid from nozzles 24 connected to headers 25. The bottles are then subjected to sprays of liquid at a pasteurizing temperature discharged .from nozzles 26 which are connected to headers 2l. The bottles, after passing under the sprays of liquid at a pasteurizing temperature, may be cooled by sprays of liquid discharged from noz-- zles 28 connected to headers 29. The various liquids sprayed onto the bottles may be separately collected in compartments 30, 3i and 32 and reusedas is usual in this art. Many of the conveying apparatus Showing the details of the s details of the pasteurizerhave been omitted as they do not form a part of this invention.

The bottles 20 may enter the pasteurizer on an inlet conveyor in the form of a belt 33, and are discharged from the pasteurizer on a conveyorV in the formv of a belt 34.

To provide for the transmission of the bottles through the pasteurizer from the conveyor 33 to the conveyor 34, we have shown a conveying apparatus which includes supports A and B on which the bottles are alternately supported and advanced step by step in a manner hereafter described.

The support A includes a plurality of spaced bars 35 extending approximately from the conveyor 33 to conveyor 34, a series of cross supports 36 having upwardly extending fingers 31 secured tothe elongated bars 35 (Figs. 10 and 11) for holding them in spaced relationship, angle bars 38 secured to opposite sides of the cross supports 36, and a pair of elongated beams 39 and $0 40 (Fig. 3) secured to opposite ends of the angle bars 38.

The support B`is similar in construction to the'support A and comprises a plurality of spaced bars 4| extending approximately from the conveyor 33 to the conveyor 34,' a -series of cross supports 42 having upwardly extended ngers 43 secured to the elongated bars 4| (Figs. 10 and 11), angle bars 44 secured to opposite sides of the cross supports 42, and a pair of elongated beams 45 and 48 (Fig. 3) secured to opposite ends of the angle bars 44.

As shown in Figs. 3, 10 and 11, the bars 35 of support A and the bars 4| of support B are alternately arranged with respect to each other, and have top faces on which Athe bottles 28 are alternately supported. Fig. l shows the upper bars 4| in bottle-supporting positions, the lower bars 35 being out of contact withthe bottles. Fig. 11 shows lthe bars 35 in an upper bottlesupporting position, and the bars 4| in a lower position.

The bottles 28 entering the pasteurizer on the conveyor 33 are diverted therefrom by a deector l plate 41 which has a curved portion (Fig. 3)

extending into the path of the bottles on tne conveyor 33. The bottles diverted from the conveyor 33 pass over a plate 48 having spaced fingers extending betweenthe bars 35 and 4| oi? the supports A and B, as shown in Figs. 3 and 1l. The bottles 28 then pass onto the bars 35 and 4| of said supports and are moved step by step in a manner hereafter kdescribed toward the conveyor 34'. The bottles discharged from the supports A and B pass over a Vplate 49 having fingers interposed between the bars 35 and 4|, and then onto the discharge conveyor 34, A guide plate 58 may be arranged adjacent to the conveyor 34, as shown in Fig. 3 vto prevent the bottles from passing off the conveyor 34.

In transmitting the bottles from the conveyor 33 to the discharge conveyor 34, each of the supports A and B are movable limited distances upwardly, forwardly,` rearwardly and downwardly in an endless cycle.

The means for raising and lowering the support A comprises a series of rollers 8| located under and supporting each of the beams 39 and 48 at opposite sides of the support A. As shown in Figs. 5, 9 and 10, the beams 39 and 48 are provided with guide plates 52 which are seated in grooves in the rollers to prevent lateral displacement of the beams with respect to the rollers.

The rollers 5I are movable simultaneously in an arcuate course to raise and lower the support A. The means for moving the rollers insaid arcuate course include a series of levers 54, 55 and 56 carrying the rollersunder the beam 89, and levers 51, 58 and `59 carrying the rollers under the beam48.

The levers 54 to 59 are pivotally mounted in supports 68 and adapted to be actuated to swing the rollers 5| in an arcuate course. Th'emeans for actuating the levers 54 to-59 includes a cylinder 6| (Figs. 4 and 6) having pipes 62 and 88 (Figs. 4 and 6) is provided with an arm 1| pivotally connected by a link 12 to an arm 13 xed on a shaft 14. This shaft 14 extends across the machine as shown in Fig. 8, and has 'an arm 15 fixed thereto. A link 16 (Figs. 2 and '1) pivotally connects the arm 15 to a lower arm 11 on the lever 51. The lever 51 also has another lower arm 18 operatively connected to the lower arms of the levers 58 and 59 by means of rods 19 and 88, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be understood 'from the foregoing that as the piston 54 is reciprocated in the cylinder 8|, motion will be simultaneously transmitted to all of the levers 54 to 59 to swing them on their pivotal supports and move the rollers 5| in arcuate paths. As the piston moves to the right from the position shown in Fig. 6,-all of the levers 54 to 59 are actuated to raise the rollersf in an arcuate course, thereby moving the support A upwardly. When the piston 64 moves back to the position shown in Fig. 6, all of the levers 54 to 59 are moved in an opposite direction to move the rollers downwardly in an arcuate course, thereby lowering the support A.

A series of rollers 8| is located under and supports each of the beams and 46 at opposite sides of the support B. As shown in Figs. 5, 9

and 10, the beams 45 and 46 are provided withI guide plates 8|A which are located in grooves in the rollers 8| to prevent lateral displacement of the beams with respect to the rollers.

The rollers 8| for supporting the beam 46 are rotatably secured to levers 82. 83 and 84, and the rollers 8| forrsupporting the beam 45 are rotatably secured to levers 85, 85 and 81. Each of the levers 82 to 81 is pivotally mounted in a support 88 and adapted to be actuated to swing the rollers 8| in an arcuate course.

All of the levers 82 to81 are operatively connected to each other and may be simultaneously actuated to raise or lower the rollers 8|.

The means for actuating the levers 82 to 81 includes a cylinder 89 (Figs. 2 and 8) and a piston 90 adapted to reciprocate therein. The cylinder 89 is provided with pipes 9| near its opposite ends to provide for theadmission and disv to the lower portion of the lever 83 which is through which fluid is introduced and discharged to reciprocate a piston 64. Rods 85 and 66 are connected to the piston 64 and extend from opposite ends of the cylinder 6|. The rod 88 is pivotally connected to the lower portion of the lever 54 by means of a link 81. The other rod is operatively connected to the levers 55 and 56 by means of a driven member 68, a rod 69 which is pivotally secured to the driven member and the lower portion of the lever 55, and a rod 18 (Fig. 4) pivotally connecting the lower portions of the levers 55 and 58.

To provide for the transmission of power to the levers 51, 58 and 59 (Fig. 2) for raising and lowating the beam 48 of the support A, the lever 54 also pivotally connected by a rod 98 (Fig. 2) to .the lower portion of the lever 84. The other rod 92 extending from the piston 98 is connected by a link 91 to the lower arm of the lever 82. It will, therefore, be understood that all of the levers 82 to 84 which are under the beam 46 of -the support B are actuated simultaneously by the piston 98.

The lowerportion of the levers to 81 for raising and lowering the beam 45 of the support B are pivotally connected to each other by means of rods 98 and 99, as shown in Fig. 4. The

lower portion of the lever 85 is also pivotally conv nected by a link |88 to an arm |8| xed on a shaft |82. This shaft extends across the machine, as shownin Fig. 8 and has an arm |83 lilxed thereto. A link |84 connects the arm |83 to the lower arm of the lever 82as shown in Fig. '1. The levers 82 to 81 are, therefore, driven in unison with each other to raise and lower the beams 45 and 46 of the support B.

To limit the upward land downward movements ofthe` supports A and B, each of the driven members 68 and 94 which are reciprocated by the pistons 64- and 90, is provided with an elongated slot |05, as shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8. At

the position shown in Fig. 12, the support A is opposite ends of each slot, adjustable stop members |06 are screwed into each driven member. A xed abutment |01 extends into each of the slots |05 and cooperates with the stop members |06 to limit the reciprocal movements of each of the driven members 68 and 94.`

As an illustration of a suitable means for moving the supports A and B forwardly and backwardly, we have shown a piston 08 in a cylinder |09 (Fig. 6), provided with pipes ||0 for the admission and discharge of uid to reciprocate said piston |08. The piston |08 is provided with an operating rod extending through anend of the cylinder. l This rod is provided with a driven member ||2 which is connected by a link ||3 to the lower end of a lever 4 fixed to a shaft H5. The upper end of the lever ||4 is pivotally connected by a link ||6 to the beam 39 of`the support 'A. The shaft H5, as shown in Fig. 8, extends across the machine and is provided with an arm (Fig. 7) which is pivotally connected by a link I 8 to the other beam 40 of the support A. The movement of the piston |09 to the left from the position shown in Fig. 6 will, therefore, shift the support A forwardly, to the right. When the piston |08 moves 30 back to the position shown in Fig. 6, the support A will move backwardly t'o return the support to the position shown in Fig. 6.

The support B moves simultaneously with the support A but in opposite directions. While the support A is moving forwardly the support B is moving rearwardly, and likewise the support A moves rearwardly while the support B is moving 1 forwardly.

'The means for driving the support B simultaneously with the support A but in said opposite directions include segmental gears ||9 and |20 f'lxed to opposite ends of the shaft ||5 and meshing with segmental gears 2| and |22 iixed on the ends of a shaft |23, as shown inv Figs. 6, 7 and 8. Arms |24 -and |25 are secured to opposite ends of the'shaft |23. The arm |24 (Fig. 6) is connected byalink |26 to the beam 45 of the support B, and the arm |25 at the other end of the shaft'l23 (,Fig. 7) 'is connected by a link 621 to the other beam 4,6' of thesuDDQrt B.

To limit the forward and backward movements .of each support, we have shown in Fig. 6`an adjustable stop device, which includes adjustable stop members in the form of screws |28 at opposite ends of an elongated slot |29 in the driven member ||2. A fixed abutment |30 extends into said slot and cooperates with said `adjustable stop membersV to limit the movements of said driven member.

We will now refer to the operation of the supports A and B in advancing lthe bottles from the inlet conveyor 33 to the discharge conveyor 34; i

Each of said supports is movable in an endless cycle upwardly to a bottle-supporting position, forwardly to advance the bottles,downwardly out of contact with the bottles, and rearwardly to a retracted position.

In Figs. 12 to 17 we have illustrated various positions of the supports A and B during their movements in said endless cycles. These views are merely diagrammatical illustrations and the details of construction have been omitted to more clearly illustrate the movements of-said supports A and B.

v tles.

' one support to the other.

In Fig. 12. the upper support B which is in a bottle-supporting position is at the end of its forward stroke and at rest, while the lower support A isv at the end of vits rearward stroke. From moved upwardly to a bottle-supporting position flush with the other support B, as shown in Fig. 13.' Thereafter, the support B is lowered so that the support A alone supports the bottles.

10 After the support B is lowered to 'the position shown in Fig. 14, the upper support A is driven l forwardly to advance the bottles'and the lower support B is simultaneously moved to a retracted position, such as is illustrated in Fig. 15. The

l5 lower support B is then moved upwardly to a bottle-supporting position ush with the support A, as illustrated in Fig. 16. Thereafter, the support A is lowered to a position such as is shown in Fig. 17', where it is out of contact with the bot- 'I'he -upper support B is then moved forwardly to advance the articles while the lower support is moving rearwardly to a retracted position, such as is shown in Fig. 12.

The supports A and B are continuously driven in the endless cycles heretofore described to alternately advance the bottles step by step from the conveyor 33 to the' conveyor 34.

It will be -observed that the bottles are moved in a substantially straight plane by the supports A and B. In other words, thebottles are not subjected to repeated objectionable raising and lowering operations as they are transferred from During the transferring operation, the support to be lowered out Iof a bottle-supporting position is not moved vdownwardly until the other support has been moved to a bottle-supporting position, where the top faces of both supports are ush with each 40 other and support the bottles.

Another advantage appearsin the elcient manner in which our apparatus conveys articles through zones of dierent temperatures without f vcausing undesirable variations in the temperatures of the conveying mechanism. For example,

the supports A and B transmit the bottles through various dierent temperature zones in the pasteurizer, buty the forward and backward movement of the supports is veri7 limited so that any particular portion of said supports remains at substantially the same temperature.

The processes of pasteurizing herein disclosed are claimed in an application led by us on September 13, 19.41, for Methods .of pasteurizing '55 liquids in containers, Serial No. 410,786, and an application iiledvby us on August 11, 1939, for Processes ci pasteurizing liquids in containers,

` Serial N0. 289,512.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for conveying articles in a straight plane which comprises a pair of supports for alternately advancing the articles, each support being movable limited distances upwardly, forwardly, downwardly and rearwardly in an endless cycle, means for moving one of said supports forwardly to advance'the articles while simultaneously moving the other support rearwardly to a retracted position, means for raising each support from its retracted position to an article-supporting position flush with the other' support, said last mentioned means beiri'g adapted to lower each support after it has completed its forward stroke and the other support r has been moved upwardly to an article-supportlq ing position, and an adjustable stop device for limiting the upward movement of each support to prevent a vertical displacement of the articles.

2. An apparatus for conveying articles in a straight plane which comprises a pair of supports for alternately advancing the articles, each support being movable limited distances upwardly, forwardly, downwardly and rearwardly ln an endless cycle, means for moving one`of said supports forwardly to advance the articles while simultaneously moving the other support rearwardly to a retracted positionan adjustable stop device for limiting the forward and rearward movements of said supports, means for raising each support from its retracted position to an article-supporting position flush with the other support, said last mentioned means being adapted to lower each support after it has completed its forward stroke and the other support has been moved upwardly to an article-supporting position, and an adjustable stop device for limiting the upward movement of each support to prevent a vertical displacement of the articles.

3. In an apparatus for conveying articles, a support movable in an endless cycle upward to an article-supporting position, forwardly to advance the articles, downwardly out'of contact with the articlesand rearwardly to a retracted position, another support also movable in an endless cycle upwardly to an article supporting position when the first mentioned support is at the end of its forward stroke and at rest, forwardly while said first mentioned support is moving rearwardly, downwardly after said first `mentioned support is moved upward, and rearwardly while said flrst mentioned support is moving forwardly, and means for driving said supports in said endless cycles to alternately advance the articles step by step.

4. In an apparatus for conveying articles, a support movable in an endless cycle upward to an article-supporting position, forwardly to advance the articles, downwardly out of contact with the articles, and rearwardly to a retracted position, another support also movable in an endless cycle upwardly to an article supporting position when the first mentioned support is at the end of its forward stroke, forwardly while said first mentioned support is moving rearwardly, downwardly after said first mentioned support is moved upward and before the first mentioned supportv is moved forwardly, and rear wardlywhile said first mentioned support is moving forwardly, and means for driving said supports in said endless cycles to alternately advance the articels step by step.

5. In an apparatus for conveying articles, a support movable in an endless cycle upward to an article-supporting position, forwardly to advance the articles, downwardly out of contact with the articles, and rearwardly to a retracted position, another support also movable in an endless cycle upwardly to an article supporting position when the first mentioned support is at the end of its forward stroke and at rest, forwardly while said first mentioned support is moving rearwardly, downwardly after said first mentioned support is moved upward and before Vthe first mentioned support is moved forwardly,

and rearwardly while said first mentioned support is moving forwardly, and means for driving said supports in said endless cycles to alternately advance the articles step by step. y

JAMES L. HEROLD. WILLIAM J. NEKOLA.

FREDERICK W. WEHMILLER. 

